LeBas bill opens patient access for physical therapy treatments

Proposed legislation (HB 623) authored by Representative Bernard LeBas (D-Ville Platte), member of House Health and Welfare Committee, takes a critical step toward eliminating the referral requirement for Louisianans who choose to seek physical therapy treatment services. A companion bill (SB 291) sponsored by Senator Fred Mills (R-St. Martinville), Chairman of Senate Health and Welfare Committee has been filed as well.
The bill asks the Legislature to remove current restrictions on patient access to physical therapy services. This new piece of legislation comes on the heels of Senate Concurrent Resolution 19 (SCR 19), which was enacted during the regular 2015 legislative session. SCR 19 created the Patient Access Review Committee to investigate the potential benefits of removing the current restrictions tied to patient access to a physical therapist’s services. This committee consisted of 25 members from state government, various healthcare professions including medical doctors, hospitals and insurance companies, as well as patient advocacy groups.
The committee recommended to the Legislature that “there is a clear and obvious benefit to remove the current restrictions tied to patient access to a physical therapist’s services by allowing direct access without restrictions” with ‘restriction’ defined as the need for referral and prescription to access physical therapy.”
HB 623 is modeled on longstanding policy found in 45 other states where access to physical therapy treatment is much easier. Louisiana is one of the seven most restricted states with regards to patient access to physical therapy treatment services. SB 291/ HB 623 would remove the current restrictions tied to patient access to a physical therapist’s services by allowing direct patient access without the need for referral or prescription to physical therapy.
David Vidrine, PT with HealthWorks Rehab added, “The United States military also has a successful model of direct patient access to a physical therapist’s services. Military health care has recognized forms of direct patient access to physical therapists since 1972. In the military, physical therapy serves as a direct point of entry into the healthcare system.’
“The educational program for physical therapists is rigorous and held to high standards through a uniform national accreditation and a national examination that includes evaluation and treatment competencies,” stated Clay Landreneau, DPT with HealthWorks Rehab. “This education allows all physical therapists to practice to the full scope of practice as allowed in each state and the U.S. military, and prepares graduates to meet public safety requirements of licensure. Therefore, physical therapists do not need to obtain any additional training or certificates for direct patient access care in states where it is allowed, nor in the military.”
“As president of the American Physical Therapy Association, I have exposure to the advantages to those populations who are able to access their physical therapists without the barriers and added expenses of unnecessary referrals and unnecessary imaging. Total costs of care are coming down in those states and the consumers are satisfied. Additionally, there has been no increase in claims or liability costs for those practitioners; evidence of the safety and conscientiousness of the profession. Louisiana citizens deserve the same access to these qualified health care providers as citizens in other jurisdictions,” offered Sharon Dunn, PT, PhD, a Orthopedic Specialist in Physical Therapy, Associate Professor at LSUHSC-Shreveport, and President of APTA.
For Louisianans who find themselves injured or in pain, commencing physical therapy sooner rather than later can be essential to their rehabilitation. Studies show that having direct access to a physical therapist’s services is actually a health benefit. For example, a recently published study by the University Health System in San Antonio found that patients who accessed physical therapy immediately at an urgent care center underwent fewer tests and procedures resulting in significantly lower health care costs compared to patients referred to physical therapists for a separate visit. The year-long study found that patients immediately seen by a physical therapist ultimately underwent half as many physical therapy procedures, MRIs and CT scans as compared to the patients who were referred to physical therapy. There was a 50% reduction in total costs associated with patients who were able to start physical therapy almost immediately.
“Malpractice claims evidence available from Healthcare Providers Service Organization, the largest malpractice insurer of physical therapy in the United States, demonstrates no heightened risk in the form of claims in states where unrestricted direct patient access is present. The insurer also reports no higher physical therapy malpractice insurance premium costs in states where unrestricted direct patient access to a physical therapist’s services is presently provided when compared to states without unrestricted access,” stated, Andy Poche’, PT of HealthWorks Rehab.